I have a 2000W 12V Reliable (QZRELB) inverter that impresses me. I would not be opposed to that! I like their hardwired outputs, but the input terminals you should be two-wrench and gentle with; they are delicate and one of them cracked trying to put 35ft-lbs on it with a 3/8 torque wrench.
I’ve got the 3kW 120VAC single-phase WZRELB as my current backup inverter and I’m also impressed with it. Thanks for the heads-up on torquing the DC input terminals…
That’s so good to know about but in a quick look apparently- as usual- no 12V options.
I’m coming to the conclusion that for my priorities, which are backup power for 5 fridges/freezers averaging 300W @ 120VAC and offsetting those same loads using 1.5kW of DC-coupled solar power, sticking to the 24V I have now is the wisest choice.
In fact, the primary reason for me to get a split-phase off-grid inverter is if I am bringing my existing split-phase subpanel off-grid and want the headroom to increase offgrid loads in the future.
For the fridges/freezers only, I could get by with a 120VAV single-phase critical loads panel, bypassing the inverter for service with a single 25A 120VAC breaker from my MSP.
I may just wire up a new CLP for single-phase 120VAC but design-in a split-phase contactor allowing me an east upgrade to split-phase such as this new 2.5+2.5=5kW model from WZRELB in the future…
I likely wouldn’t normally concur but in your circumstances I say, “do it.” 24V is fine; I’d consider it if I wasn’t married to 12V lighting and such.
If you really need to “go big” 48v would probably be best just building from scratch and either run redundant or sell off the old system.
I don’t need to ‘go big’. During an extended multi-day PSPS power outage for fire safety, it’s really only the fridges we care about powering.
And it’s also those same fridges/freezers running 24/7 that end up consuming over 50% of our energy on an annual basis.
So with all the changes both in terms of rules and regulations, keeping it simple, safe, and cheap for this next phase with wiring designed to provide for an easy upgrade down the road seems like the prudent plan.
I’m currently running at 1S due to issues with shifting morning shade and if I’m sticking to 24V, I believe I can also stick to 1S for the new panels. Charging at 28.8V would require 30.8V of incoming solar which is a hair over the 30.2Vmpp of my panels, but Voc is 37.2V so there should be no problem maintaining +2 volts over battery voltage through the day and lost output once the battery is charged up past 37VDC should be modest…
Of course, if I ever decide I need a 48V inverter I’ll either need to rewire the 3 1S2P strings as 2S1P or pick up 3 of these new boost-SCCs, but that’ll be a hairball for another era.